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Briggs' Banjo Instructor

by: Thomas F. Briggs

Publication date: 1855

Usage: Public Domain Mark 1.0

Topics: Banjo Method, Early banjo, Stroke style banjo, Thomas Briggs, sheet music

Collection: folkscanomy_music; folkscanomy; additional_collections

Language: English

Item Size: 59.7M

Briggs' Banjo Instructor: containing the elementary principles of music, examples and lessons necessary to facilitate the acquirement of a perfect knowledge of the instrument. A choice collection of pieces, numbering over fifty popular dances, polkas, melodies, &c. &c. Many of which have never before been published. Composed and arranged expressly for this work by Thomas F. Briggs.

This book is considered the first "real" banjo instruction book. It primarily teaches "stroke style" and includes an early mention of the "banjo thimble" ("and he played is so strong that he had to get a piece of steel made for the end of his finger, as a sort of shield, to prevent his tearing off his nail").

Albert Bauer (one of the few people known to have played while serving as a soldier) considered it a good representation on how the banjo was played during the American Civil War.